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RIP Moondance, Canada’s oldest independent record store

(Photo credit: Jeannie Taylor at KawarthaNow.com)

In the early 70s, Montreal native Mike Taveroff was living in Vancouver when he decided that he wanted to be closer to his native Montreal. After getting as far east as Peterborough, he got a job at Stop 222, one of the downtown record stores before moving over to the local Sam the Record. Then in 1972, made a move to open his own store, also in the downtown core.

It began as a bin of records for sale at Moondance, the clothing store on George Street run by his wife, Cheryl. Bit by bit, the clothes were moved out in favour of more records. With a $3,000 loan, the space was transformed into a record shop.

Business was so good that the loan was paid off quickly and business boomed. The place became an inviting spot for people to hang out. Mike didn’t care if you bought anything; he just liked the idea of people hanging out together in his record store.

Now, 46 years later,  at age 68 and with his wife having passed away last year, Taveroff, is retiring and shutting Moondance down, ending its run as Canada’s oldest independent record store. As of today (February 1), all in-stock inventory is on sale, including some really cool collectible stuff.

This has thrown a significant portion of Eastern Ontario into a funk. Where is everyone going to get their rare records from now on?

Read the whole story of Moondance and see plenty of pictures at KawarthaNow.com. Thanks to Jody for the link.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

Alan Cross has 38022 posts and counting. See all posts by Alan Cross

One thought on “RIP Moondance, Canada’s oldest independent record store

  • I used to go to Moondance often in the late 90’s… only recently have I been bitten by the vinyl bug and my favourite place has been Zap Records in Cobourg, ON. Going to miss Moondance though… I always liked stopping in when I was in Peterborough.

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